Warming temperatures and shorter winters might sound like the end of snow days. However, rising temperatures may actually cause snowstorms to dump more snow, says David Robinson. He is a professor at a university in New Jersey. He studies climate (气候) change.
Temperature change is one of the greatest in Earth' s climate change over a long period of time. It can happen naturally or because of human activities, such as burning gas and coal. Burning these fuels produces carbon dioxide (二氧化碳) and other pollutants into the atmosphere, which hold heat in the atmosphere, leading to warmer global temperatures over time.
But how could warmer temperatures lead to more snow? To get snow, you need moisture (水汽) and freezing temperatures (0℃ or less), says Robinson. Without moisture in the air, there is no precipitation (rain or snow). Robinson says there are signs that snowstorms are becoming stronger. This is because of this connection between moisture and precipitation.
" The warmer the air becomes, the more moisture it holds. So, if it' s warming and still cold enough to snow, you can get more snow, " Robinson says.
Of the 10 biggest snowfalls in D. C. region, five happened in the past 25 years, according to the NWS. During that same time period, average winter temperatures in D. C. increased. In 1996, the average winter temperature was 1. 8℃. In 2020, it was 6℃.
Weather experts suggest that rising temperatures may make winter shorter and less cold. But for now, the snow is still falling. One day, winter might not have any days below the freezing temperature. Once temperatures stay above freezing, snowstorms become rain. Until then, we might continue to see strong storms.
According to Robinson, that time could come sooner than we think. He says, " When we look back, years from now, we may see that this was the breaking point. "
